VCU news

By Corey Byers

The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department, in partnership with resource organizations at VCU and across Richmond, will host Start by Believing @ The Commons on Wednesday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event takes place at the University Student Commons plaza, 907 Floyd Ave. 

VCU Police is a member agency of the national Start by Believing campaign and encourages community members to start by believing sexual assault survivors when they disclose an assault. Due to COVID-19 protocols in 2020 and 2021, the department was unable to host an annual, in-person event. Police and support organizations want to remind the community about the resources available to survivors at VCU and in the Greater Richmond community.

The event, geared toward VCU students, will feature members of the VCU women’s basketball team, who will host a “dribble knockout” and a “dribble relay” to raise awareness about the importance of believing survivors. The event also will feature resource tables, raffles and other activities hosted by resource providers.

 A media availability from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. will include:

• Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin
• VCU Police Chief John Venuti

Officials will not be making formal remarks, but they will be available to speak about the importance of supporting survivors and how their offices contribute to those efforts.

Event partners include University Counseling Services, VCU Advocacy Services, University Student Health Services, Rams in Recovery, the Virginia attorney general’s office, the Richmond commonwealth attorney’s office, Crime Stoppers, YWCA Richmond and Safe Harbor.

Reporters who are interested in attending are asked to contact VCU Police public information officer Corey Byers.

Media parking near the event will be limited, but available, at the Student Commons parking circle, located on Floyd Avenue between North Cherry and North Linden streets.

Social media hashtags for this event: #StartbyBelieving, #KnockOutDisbelief.